"Spring weddings are lovely, don't you think?"

I tried not to gag as Mama went on and on and on about my impending nuptials. I'd barely had the ring on for 72 hours and already she was planning the wedding, reception, and births of her future grandchildren. And there was Charlie sitting right along with her graciously going along with everything being said. I secretly hoped that he was just sucking up and trying to stay on my parents' good side. For me it was way too soon to be making any long term plans. Nothing was set in stone and it wouldn't be until Charlie and I had a nice long talk back home. Back home. Gosh, I yearned to be in the safe, cozy confines of our Milwaukee apartment. We would have already been there too if it hadn't been for that damn snowstorm. Sure the first few flakes were beautiful as Charlie and I enjoyed a romantic moonlit walk back to my folks' house. But those pretty flakes soon turned to a heaping blanket of white that seemed to go for miles. Virginia hadn't seen weather like that in years. It was being classified a blizzard and one strong enough to shut down the surrounding airports for days.

"Whatever you say, Mama."

"And what about a reception right here in the backyard? It's big enough, don't you think?"

"I guess but we have plenty of time to think about that. Charlie and I haven't even decided where we want to be married."

"What do you mean?" my mother asked with a semi horrified expression. "Aren't you going to get married here in Alexandria? You've gone to Silver Creek Baptist Church your entire life, Mary-Courtney. Of course you would want your wedding to be there."

"Yeah but we live in Wisconsin now and Charlie's family is back in Illinois."

"Yes but what about..."

I simply tuned her out. Shame on me for even contributing to such a ridiculous conversation anyway.

"We'll figure something out, Mama. I just want it to be practical for everyone."

"Charlie, it's too bad you didn't get to attend service as Silver Creek", Mama turned to my fiancé, completely tuning me out. "It is lovely. It's one of the oldest churches in the city, absolutely beautiful. Mary-Courtney grew up there singing in the choir. She has a lovely voice, you know."

"Yeah I've heard it in the shower."

From the look on Charlie's face it was obvious he caught his "slip of the tongue" as soon as the words rolled clumsily out of his mouth. My Christian parents had no idea we were living together out of wedlock and if they did it would kill them and they in turn would kill me. It was my secret rebellion, so to speak.

"Well yes, I'm sure you two have found a nice church out in Milwaukee", she continued despite her beet red face.

"Well I'm not exactly what you would call a real religious person, Mrs. Davis. Actually, I haven't been to Synagogue since I was a teenager, probably right after my bah mitzvah."

The words seemed to come out of Charlie's mouth in slow motion and I was right there gesturing with every hand and facial movement to get him to shut up before he said too much. But it was too late. As he got the last sentence out, my mother and father happened to simultaneously taking sips of their respective drinks. The minute they heard "synagogue" and "bah mitzvah" they both spit those drinks out simultaneously. I was mortified and there was poor confused Charlie covered in recycled iced tea.

"Synagogue? Bah mitzvah?" my dad said with a puzzled looked. "You aren't Jewish, are you boy?"

"Yes...yes sir", Charlie nodded. "I thought you knew. I mean, I thought Mary-Courtney told you."

"No. No she didn't tell us that part."

My father sat in his old recliner sullen and quiet as he pretended to watch the television. There was an eerie and extremely uncomfortable silence that followed. No one knew what to say after that.

"Well that teacher on that show, what was it, Welcome Back Kotter...he was Jewish wasn't he?" my mother finally offered.

I laughed before I could help myself. That was the best she could come up with.

"I think I'm gonna get some air", Charlie said as he headed for the front door.

I couldn't follow him fast enough. He stood on the porch with his back to me for what seemed like forever.

"The snow is really pretty", he mumbled.

"Charlie I'm sorry."

"For?" he asked, finally facing me.

"For them. For what just happened."

"I don't see what the big deal is. It's 1978 for Heaven's sake. Are you gonna tell me they hate Jews or something?"

"Not hate but something like it", I blurted out truthfully.

It pained me to see Charlie's face fall.

"What?"

"You know how you always tell me about growing up in Chicago? What your parents and friends were like and stuff? And you always say that I never talk a lot about my past. Now you know the reason why. I love my parents, Charlie. They're my mother and father and they did the best they could for me and I love them but I'm nothing like them. They come from another time and I can understand that in their day people didn't race mix and all that. But this is a new day. Times have changed and they've been changing for a long time now. My parents just chose to remain in the dark ages. I don't think they're bad people necessarily but they are ignorant. After all these years they haven't changed and they probably won't change and it's very sad. They might say that they think people are equal and deserve fair chances and stuff but they mean the people that look and act like them. You know, when I was a junior the city integrated the schools. It didn't bother me a bit but a lot of folks around here threw a fit. It was so much hatred and tension and misunderstanding especially when they demoted the white football coach and gave it to a black guy from North Carolina. All hell nearly broke loose. This whole town was in turmoil. But those players, high school football players came together and it was like magic. They brought the whole town together. It was a beautiful time. That's why you see the bond with us. It's so much more than friendship, Charlie, it's like family. Eventually it got better and people starting respecting and accepting one another. Mama and Daddy just don't happen to fall into that category. They're set in their ways. They didn't like me going to a mixed school, they hated when Rev tutored me in math and Blue and I danced together at prom and one of the neighbors chaperoned and told Mama and she and Daddy just about lost it. That's how they are. And not just to blacks. I had a real nice boyfriend from a nice family who moved here from California. He dressed and acted a little different and wore his hair slightly longer than the rest of the fellas around here so everybody assumed he was a hippie. My parents hated him...didn't allow him past this front door here for over a year. And I'm sure some of their closed minded opinions pertain to Jews as well. I'm sorry, honey."

Charlie just stood there taking all my words in as fast as I could spit them out. He looked hurt but he desperately tried to understand, probably for my sake.

"Don't be sorry baby", he finally spoke. "It's not your fault."

"It'll be over soon. We'll be back home and everything is gonna be okay, Charlie."

"I know."

"Still love me?"

"I'll never stop", he said with a look that made me know he meant it.

"I love you Charlie Foreman."

We kissed and he held me for a long time on that cold night. Finally we broke away.

"It's late Mary-Courtney and I'm kind of tired. I think I'm gonna turn in. Um, maybe the airports will open and we can get a flight out tomorrow."

"I hope so. We'll check first thing."

"Okay. Good night, babe."

"Night, Charlie."

We went back inside and he headed up to the guest room giving my parents a nod of quick acknowledgement. I stood in front of the roaring fire trying to warm hands that were cold as ice.

"Mary-Courtney can we talk for a minute?"

The dreaded talk that I knew was coming the instant Mama caught me alone.

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Charlie of course. He...he..."

"He what Mama? Twenty minutes ago he was the greatest thing since sliced bread and now there's a problem?"

"But he's...you know...he's a..."

"A what? A Jew?"

"Well yes."

"Look at you, you can't even say it. It's not a bad word."

"You can't seriously marry him, Mary-Courtney."

"And why not? I love him, we make each other happy...what's the problem?"

"He's Jewish."

"So was Jesus Christ!"

My mother's face lost all color.

"Jesus Christ most certainly was not! Besides, don't bring Him into this."

For someone who was such a religious fanatic, it never ceased to amaze me how she could twist and turn things from the Bible all to fit in her warped interpretation.

"Mama, please don't do this. Not now."

"Mary-Courtney, can you imagine the rest of your life with a...a dirty Jew? Having little Jewish babies?"

"Yes I can, Mama."

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph! If your grandmother were still alive, God rest her soul. I'm sure she is spinning in her grave right now. I can't let you do this, Mary-Courtney. Marrying Charlie Foreman will be the biggest mistake of your life. Your father and I won't allow it."

"Allow it? Allow it! Mama, have you gone mad? I am 23 years old. I am an adult living on my own. You don't make decisions for me anymore. Those days are long over. It's not up to you, Mama. Do you understand that? Now you and Daddy can be there on the biggest day of my life or you cannot be there. That's up to you but I'll be damned if I let you ruin it for me."

"Mary-Courtney!"

I brushed past her and slipped back into my coat.

"Mary-Courtney, where do you think you're going in this weather?" my father demanded.

"Out! Away from the two of you", I said, wrapping a scarf around my neck. "I'll be back later. In the meantime try not to lynch my sleeping fiancé, will you?"

With that I slammed the door and stalked onto the walkway. The snow, powdery and soft was knee deep and it was hard to keep my balance. I was freezing my butt off and my nose was running like I was two years old but there was no way I was ready to set foot in that house again. I prayed to God to let there be a plane available first thing the next morning. I wasn't sure I could deal with my mother and father another day. Walking alone with my thoughts I saw lights on a street corner a few blocks over. It was one of those new all night diners and I could see a few patrons scattered about. My hands nearly froze to the door as I opened it.

"Well come on in, sugar", a nice older lady with red hair said. "Looks like you could use a cup of hot coffee to warm you right up."

"Yes ma'am", I replied gratefully.

I slipped into a booth and waited for coffee that arrived piping hot a few seconds later. I tasted it and definitely could have stood for more sugar. The packets at my table were empty. I cursed to myself and looked around. The place was virtually empty except for a man a few booths in front of me. His back was towards me but I could see a full stack of sugar packets on his table.

"Um excuse me sir, I hate to be a bother but could I borrow a couple packs of sugar, please?"

"No problem", he answered, handing me several packets.

"Thank you. I..."

I stopped in mid sentence. I couldn't get words to form. I'd know that beautiful face, those gorgeous eyes anywhere. The blonde hair was a bit darker and shorter and the face less boyish but there was still the same dreamboat I had met seven years before.

"Ronnie Bass...is that you?"

"Oh my God...Mary-Courtney!"